Chapter 508: The Lycan King Who Deceives The Foolish King

Fortunately, it wasn’t strange for husbands to act that way toward their wives. Most of them saw their wives as their property. Because of that, they would do anything to make sure no one else touched what they believed belonged to them.

In the past, some men who went to war even forced their wives to wear chastity belts because they were afraid their wives would cheat. That dark period caused many women to suffer infections, and some of them even died because of it.

Even though people no longer do things that extreme, the mindset hasn’t fully disappeared. Some men still ask others to keep an eye on their wives whenever they go out. If a wife disappears without telling anyone, she might even be punished.

Well, Edmund also always kept an eye on her, and… yeah, it was borderline obsessive. But at least he wouldn’t do anything if Primrose deliberately covered her tracks or didn’t wear her ring.

Besides, that ring was also useful in the beastland, where danger could appear at any time.

“He asked me to do something bad with him,” Primrose finally said. It was a lie, and she knew it. She said it on purpose. “I don’t think those words are appropriate when he’s using your face.”

Averon narrowed his eyes. “And what did you say to him?”

“I rejected him, of course,” Primrose replied calmly. “I would never have an affair behind my husband’s back.”

[But that’s because she was being watched by others,] Averon thought. [If she were alone, would she still reject a man who had my face?]

Primrose almost choked when she caught that thought.

Instead of worrying that someone was trying to ruin his name, he was busy wondering what she would do if she were alone.

What a jerk!

Of course, she would still reject him even if she were alone! Besides, who would get turned on by looking at Averon’s average face?

Even if an unbelievably handsome man asked her out, she would still choose her husband because her husband was not only handsome, but kind and loyal. Therefore, she would be a fool to throw that away.

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t you focus on finding this person?” Edmund asked calmly. “If he commits a crime in your kingdom, you might be blamed for it.”

Averon let out a breath. “Yes, I should place a bounty on him. But if he can truly change faces, it won’t be easy to catch him. And… you might need to be careful too.”

Edmund frowned. “Why?”

Averon looked at Edmund in disbelief. “Because… he can change faces. Doesn’t that mean you are also prone to being accused of his crimes?”

[I don’t even know who that person is… but instead of targeting me, wouldn’t it be more interesting to frame the Lycan King?] Averon thought bitterly. [If the Lycan King is accused of a serious crime, then maybe I can take Primrose as one of my concubines.]

This man was truly sick!

He was actually wishing for another man’s downfall just so he could steal that man’s wife.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Edmund said. “I have made sure to always stay near other people while I am in this kingdom.”

Oh, Primrose just realized that.

During their stay in Azmeria Kingdom, Edmund had never gone anywhere alone. He was always with her, with Lazarus, or with guards from the manor.

He had been building an alibi. He was making sure people saw him and making sure he could prove where he was at any moment.

If Primrose’s words were considered irrelevant in court, at least he could use Lazarus’s words or other people’s testimonies.

More than that, the people in Illvaris had also begun to grow fond of Edmund since he joined their celebrations and prevented bandits from robbing Miss Talia’s bakery.

He had even shown other people at the banquet that he was a decent man and a loving husband.

All this time, Primrose thought that she had to try her best to help her husband gain people’s trust, but without her realizing it, her husband had also been doing his own part to prevent others from framing him.

“But honestly, there’s something that’s been bothering me, Your Majesty,” Edmund spoke again to Averon. “You know, I once caught a soldier who helped the bandits rob businesses around the kingdom.”

Averon seemed to remember. “Ah, that one.” He waved a hand lightly. “You don’t need to worry about him. He was just a traitor. He killed himself before he entered the dungeon, so there’s nothing left to investigate.”

[Why did he suddenly bring up that case?] Averon wondered. [The bandits said that the Lycan King had interrogated him, but one of them claimed that the soldier had sworn to them that he told nothing to the Lycan King.]

[Well, it does sound a little suspicious, but since I didn’t find any signs of torture on his body, I’m sure that the Lycan King didn’t do anything to him.]

[After all, that dog wouldn’t be brave enough to do something reckless when everyone here has been trying to shoot his head.]

Primrose smiled inwardly and felt relieved that she had asked the soldier to kill himself. Because of that, Averon would never be able to find out whether the soldier had told them anything or not.

Honestly, she wasn’t sure that they could bring Averon down by bringing up that case, but at least talking about it could buy more time for the beast soldiers to sneak deeper into the palace grounds.

“Yes, but before that, he said something that worried me,” Edmund said. “He told me that the reason he helped the bandits was because you were the one who allowed them to enter the kingdom.”

“And… he said that you let them in so they could raid my father-in-law’s distillery,” Edmund added.

Averon froze in his place. He was still smiling, but his expression had slightly stiffened. The corners of his lips remained lifted, yet his eyes had grown cold.

“That is quite an accusation,” he said calmly. “Are you saying that I would cooperate with bandits to harm my own people?”

Edmund met his gaze without hesitation. “I’m only repeating what the soldier told me.”

Averon let out a soft chuckle, though there was no warmth in it. “And you believed the words of a traitor?”

“I didn’t say I believed him,” Edmund replied evenly. “But I do think it’s strange that a mere soldier would dare to help bandits without someone backing him.”

Silence fell between them, and Primrose could almost feel the tension in the air. Averon’s mind was racing, calculating every possible outcome.

[Did that soldier really say something before he died? Or is he bluffing?]

Edmund continued, his tone still calm. “Of course, I didn’t take his words at face value, but…” He paused for a moment before finally showing a faint smile. “If you really did that, you should have informed me first.”

He leaned forward and whispered so that only Averon could hear him. “My father-in-law’s distillery is not an easy place to raid.”

His voice was soft, almost friendly. “If bandits were truly targeting it, I could have cooperated with you. It would have been easier to control the situation… and decide who takes the blame.”

Averon’s eyes darkened slightly, and his mind was immediately filled with many questions. [What? Did I hear that wrong? Why would he want to raid his own father-in-law’s distillery?]

Before Averon could say anything, Edmund spoke again. “My father-in-law is the reason why I can’t take full control over my wife, and… it really annoys me.”

Lazarus’s love for Primrose was no longer a secret, and that was exactly the reason Averon had never been able to lay a hand on her.

That was why, when Edmund said those words, Averon’s eyes immediately lit up. For a brief moment, he felt as if he had just found a fellow devil standing on the same side as him.

A smile curved on his lips. “I see…” Averon said thoughtfully. “So even the mighty Lycan King has his own troubles.”

Edmund gave a faint, almost helpless smile. “Power doesn’t mean much when a father refuses to let go of his daughter.”

Averon let out a low chuckle. “Fathers can be… troublesome obstacles.” He added, “Why don’t we… talk in private?”

[Damn it, who the hell wants to talk to this disgusting man?] Edmund cursed inwardly. [But maybe this is for the best for my wife. I believe she has already heard too many disgusting things inside his head.]

Edmund kept his expression calm. “If that is Your Majesty’s wish,” he said politely.

Averon nodded and then gestured toward Bianca and Primrose. “You two may leave us.”

Bianca hesitated for a second, clearly reluctant to step away. “Your Majesty—”

“Do as I say,” Averon cut her off, his tone firm but still carrying a polite smile.

Bianca bit her lower lips, saying, “As you command, Your Majesty.”

She turned without further protest and walked toward the door. Primrose briefly brushed her fingers against Edmund’s hand for a moment before finally following after Bianca.

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